Bands & Musicians in Florida

Florida rewrote Southern rock when the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd formed in Jacksonville, and Gainesville gave Tom Petty his start. Miami's TK Records powered the disco era and Gloria Estefan carried Latin pop to international audiences, while 2 Live Crew pushed Miami bass into the mainstream. Tampa spawned death metal acts Morbid Angel and Obituary, and Orlando minted the boy-band era with the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.

Miami books the Fillmore Miami Beach and hosts the Ultra and III Points festivals. Fort Lauderdale's Revolution Live and St. Petersburg's Jannus Live cover the touring circuit, the Ritz Ybor holds down Tampa, Orlando's the Social and the Beacham handle downtown bills, and High Dive keeps Gainesville's punk calendar full.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers Band started in Jacksonville, Tom Petty came out of Gainesville, Gloria Estefan and 2 Live Crew defined Miami eras, Morbid Angel and Obituary built Tampa death metal, and the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC formed in Orlando.

Working players find steady pay in Orlando's theme parks and hotel lounges, Miami gigs in Latin, hip-hop, and electronic rooms, and rock and metal bills across Tampa-St. Petersburg. Gainesville's college crowd keeps punk and indie honest. Tourist towns from Key West to Panama City book cover acts, and BandMate can locate players in any of them.